Tag: Morocco

Moroccan Christians demand equal marriage rights

June 12, 2018 Morocco Burial, Converts, King Mohammed VI, Marriage, Morocco

A Moroccan couple who converted to Christianity and recently married, ignoring threats from people in their conservative hometown, have demanded legal recognition of their union, Reuters reports. The Maghreb nation, which is 99 per cent Muslim, is officially an Islamic state – King Mohammed VI holds the title of ‘Prince . . . Read More

Freedom of thought ‘regressing on a global scale’

December 6, 2017 Global News -- No Particular Country Afghanistan, Apostasy, Asia Bibi, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei, China, Comoros, Education, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Human rights, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Qatar, Religious freedom, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, The Gambia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

There are many Pakistani Christian women like Aasiya Noreen who live in fear of the Blasphemy law in their country and the (potential of) abuse. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

The 2017 Freedom of Thought Report, presented yesterday (5 December), should be alarming “to all who care about freedom of thought and expression”, as it shows “a pattern of regression on a global scale”, says its editor, Bob Churchill. The report, published by the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) . . . Read More

Religious minorities’ struggles the focus of Morocco conference

November 17, 2017 Morocco Converts, Greek Orthodox, Islamic extremism, King Mohammed VI, Minorities, Morocco, Rabat, Religious freedom, Sunni

Square next to the Hassan II Mosque in the city of Casablanca in 2010. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

A conference taking place in Rabat, Morocco, tomorrow (18 November) will focus on the problems religious minorities are facing in the Muslim-majority country. Muslims account for 99 per cent of the population, according to US Department of State figures, and the remaining 1 per cent experience “marginalisation and exclusion”, according . . . Read More

Six Red Cross workers among dozens killed in C. African Republic

August 11, 2017 Central African Republic Anti-balaka, Bangassou, Bangui, Central African Republic, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, Gambo, Morocco, Oumar Kobine Layama, Seleka, UPC

This week the UN warned of the risk of genocide once again in the Central African Republic, saying the situation has deteriorated in recent months. Last week, dozens lost their lives in clashes between armed groups in the south-eastern town of Gambo, about 75km from Bangassou, where recent violence has . . . Read More

Bishop in C. African Republic wants more effective UN peacekeepers after ‘failure to protect’

July 28, 2017 Central African Republic Anti-balaka, Bangassou, Bangui, Central African Republic, Dieudonné Nzapalainga, IDPs, Morocco, Nicolas Guérékoyamé-Gbangou, Oumar Kobine Layama, Seleka, UN

Bishop of Bangassou, (CAR), Juan José Aguirre Munoz (World Watch Monitor)

A bishop prevented by escalating violence from returning to his Central African Republic diocese has called for UN peacekeepers there to be replaced with a more effective defence force. Bishop Juan José Aguirre Munoz of Bangassou, who was speaking from the CAR capital, Bangui, also said the Moroccan troops are . . . Read More

Morocco Christian survives assassination attempt

November 8, 2016 Morocco Casablanca, Greek Orthodox, Islamic extremism, King Mohammed VI, Morocco

A prominent Christian activist has survived an assassination attempt on Friday (4 Nov.), in Morocco’s northern city of Casablanca, reports Middle East Concern, which works on freedom of religion for Christians. It reports Mohammed Saeed Zao is well-known because of his promotion of the rights of Christians, and has featured . . . Read More

Italy takes 1,000 refugees via humanitarian visas

February 9, 2016 Ethiopia, Europe, Italy, Lebanon, Migrants, Morocco, North Africa, Refugees, Syria

Italian Protestant churches will help settle 1,000 refugees arriving there this month through a “humanitarian corridor” from camps in Lebanon, Morocco and Ethiopia. The refugees, including both Christians and Muslims, will travel under the safety of humanitarian visas so they are not tempted to risk deadly sea crossings to Europe. . . . Read More

Clerics tell Muslims to protect minorities

January 29, 2016 Global News -- No Particular Country Africa, Belgium, Europe, France, Islamic extremism, Marrakesh, Morocco, United Arab Emirates

More than 250 Muslim scholars, from over 120 countries, have called for religious freedom for non-Muslims in majority-Muslim countries. In a declaration signed on 27 January in Marrakesh, Morocco, the clerics said that it is wrong to discriminate against religious minorities in Muslim countries. They paid particular attention to Muhammad’s . . . Read More

Mid East Christians on UN Security Council agenda?

March 10, 2015 Global News -- No Particular Country France, Middle East, Minorities, Morocco, Rabat, UN

France, whose turn it is to preside over the next UN Security Council meeting on March 27th, says that it plans to discuss the situation of Christians and other minorities in the Middle East. The French Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius, told a news conference in Rabat, Morocco on 9 March that . . . Read More

Christmas service a ‘worry’ in Islamist nations

December 9, 2014 Christmas, Islamic extremism, Middle East, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan

The Evening Standard has published an opinion piece by author Rupert Shortt, in which he argues that Christmas this year will be a time of worry for many Christians in countries ‘from Morocco to Pakistan’ in which Christians cannot worship without harassment. He goes onto argue that religion is not . . . Read More

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